Neurocritical Care Aspects of Ischemic Stroke Management

This article reviews the care of patients with ischemic stroke in the intensive care unit, including early general critical care interventions for airway control blood pressure goals according to the type of acute stroke treatment, poststroke cerebral edema management, hemorrhagic conversion in ischemic stroke, fibrinolytic reversal, and management of carotid endarterectomy and infective endocarditis. The importance of preventing common intensive care complications is discussed, including aspiration pneumonia, deep venous thrombosis, urinary tract infections, cardiac arrhythmias, and hyperglycemia.